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Home , Alagoas tyrannulet, Brazilian tinamou, Chachalaca, Cocoa thrush, Cracidae, Forest elaenia

Cotinga 20 in Atlantic Forest fragments in north-east Luís Fábio Silveira, Fábio Olmos and Adrian J. Long Cotinga 20 (2003): 32–46

Durante o mês de outubro de 2001 os autores percorreram 15 fragmentos florestais no Estado de Alagoas, Brasil. O objetivo principal foi localizar novas populações e obter mais dados sobre os táxons endêmicos do ‘Centro Pernambuco’. Foram realizados censos em cada um dos fragmentos, que também foram analisados quanto ao estado geral de conservação. Discute-se a presença de espécies-chave, como grandes frugívoros ou aquelas sensíveis à fragmentação ou às mudanças na estrutura da vegetação. Os dois fragmentos mais importantes, com relação ao número de espécies encontrado e o número de táxons endêmicos, estão localizados na Usina Serra Grande (Mata do Pinto e Mata do Engenho Coimbra), onde foram registrados 16 táxons endêmicos e/ou ameaçados de extinção. Recomenda-se pesquisa taxonômica urgente, que procure evidenciar os táxons endêmicos do ‘Centro Pernambuco’, além de uma efetiva proteção aos fragmentos e às aves que ainda os habitam, uma maior vigilância contra a caça, a retirada de madeira e o desmatamento e um programa de reflorestamento que procure conectar os fragmentos mais próximos entre si.

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In contrast to the Amazon forest, the Brazilian pernambucensis, T. aethiops distans and Iodopleura Atlantic Forest stretches along a broad latitudinal pipra leucopygia55,61. band, with little longitudinal variation. This The ‘Serra do Mar’ centre of avian endemism22 latitudinal gradient, from c.6oS to 32 S, is further covers the Atlantic Forest from Rio Grande do Norte diversified by the montane ranges born of intense (c.7 S) to Rio Grande do Sul (c.32 S), with two main Cenozoic tectonic activity51 that occur throughout divisions: the narrow belt of coastal and montane much of the region. It is little wonder that tropical forests, and the forests of southern Brazil forest in such setting is an important centre of and nearby Argentina and Paraguay. Despite endemism. Over 90% of known and 70% of forming a recognisable entity, the Serra do Mar reptiles recorded in the Atlantic Forest are centre can be further divided into several endemic26,40. Among the breeding avifauna, c.200 ‘subcentres’ characterised by assemblages of recognised are endemic to the Atlantic Forest endemic birds21,68. region31. Endemism levels are probably even greater The forested belt north of the rio São Francisco as several taxa currently regarded as is one such area, generally referred to as the may prove to be biological (BSC) and/or phylogenetic ‘Pernambuco centre’12,57. It includes both the coastal (PSC) species once detailed taxonomic studies are forests and complex transitional area between them undertaken. Examples of such from north-east and drier habitats inland. The Pernambuco centre Brazil include Thamnophilus caerulescens is considered an area of interchange between biota

Figure 1. Extensive areas of forest have been destroyed to Figure 2. Usina Serra Grande contains one of the largest make way for sugarcane plantations, leaving the landscape and best-preserved remnants of montane forest in Alagoas; heavily fragmented (Luiz Claudio Marigo) it harbours a considerable number of endemic and globally threatened species (Luiz Claudio Marigo)

32 Cotinga 20 Birds in Atlantic Forest fragments in north-east Brazil

Ta b le 1. Endemic forest birds of the Pernambuco centre and nearby highland forests of Ceará state, Brazil. Threat categories follow BirdLife International11. Nomenclature and status of endemic taxa is based on general catalogues or recent revisions8,33,49,55,56,70 and specimens housed in the collections of Museu de Zoologia da Universidade de São Paulo and Universidade Federal de Pernambuco.

Taxon Distribution Status solitarius pernambucensis Berla, 1946 Alagoas and Pernambuco Near Threatened mitu Linnaeus, 1766 Alagoas Extinct in the wild superciliaris alagoensis Nardelli, 1993 Alagoas - Odontophorus capueira plumbeicollis Cory, 1915 Alagoas to Ceará - Leptodon forbesi (Swann, 1922) Alagoas and Pernambuco Critical Pyrrhura anaca (Gmelin, 1788) Ceará, Pernambuco and Alagoas - Phaethornis ochraceiventris camargoi Grantsau, 1988 Pernambuco, Alagoas - Momotus momota marcgraviana Pinto & Camargo, 1961 Alagoas and Paraíba - Picumnus limae Snethlage, 1924 Ceará - Picumnus fulvescens Stager, 1961 Pernambuco and Paraíba - Picumnus exilis pernambucensis Zimmer, 1947 Alagoas and Pernambuco - Dendrocincla fuliginosa taunayi Pinto, 1939 Alagoas to Pernambuco - Lepidocolaptes fuscus atlanticus (Cory, 1916) Pernambuco to Ceará - Synallaxis infuscata Pinto, 1950 Pernambuco and Alagoas Critical Automolus leucophthalmus lammi Zimmer, 1947 Alagoas and Paraíba - Philydor novaesi Teixeira & Gonzaga, 1983 Alagoas Critical minutus alagoanus Pinto, 1954 Alagoas to Paraíba - Sclerurus caudacutus caligineus Pinto, 1954 Alagoas - Thamnophilus caerulescens pernambucensis Naumburg, 1937 Alagoas and Pernambuco - Thamnophilus caerulescens cearensis (Cory, 1919) Ceará - Thamnophilus aethiops distans Pinto, 1954 Alagoas and Pernambuco - Myrmotherula snowi Teixeira & Gonzaga, 1985 Alagoas and Pernambuco Critical Terenura sicki Teixeira & Gonzaga, 1983 Alagoas and Pernambuco Endangered Cercomacra laeta sabinoi Pinto, 1939 Alagoas and Pernambuco - Pyriglena leuconota pernambucensis Zimmer, 1931 Pernambuco, Alagoas and (perhaps) Paraíba - Myrmeciza ruficauda soror Pinto, 1940 Alagoas to Paraíba Endangered melanops nigrifrons Pinto, 1943 Alagoas to Paraíba - Iodopleura pipra leucopygia Salvin, 1885 Alagoas, Pernambuco and Paraíba Endangered ceciliae Teixeira, 1987 Alagoas and Pernambuco Critical Platyrhynchus mystaceus niveigularis Pinto, 1954 Alagoas to Paraíba - Hemitriccus mirandae Snethlage, 1925 Alagoas and Ceará Vulnerable Hemitriccus zosterops naumburgae (Zimmer, 1945) Alagoas to Paraíba - Schiffornis turdinus intermedius Pinto, 1954 Alagoas to Paraíba - Hemithraupis flavicollis melanoxantha (Lichtenstein, 1823) Pernambuco, Alagoas - Tangara fastuosa Lesson, 1831 Alagoas to Paraíba Endangered Tangara cyanocephala corallina (Berlepsch, 1903) Pernambuco and Alagoas - Tangara cyanocephala cearensis Cory, 1916 Ceará - Caryothraustes canadensis frontalis Hellmayr, 1905 Ceará, Pernambuco and Alagoas - of the Atlantic and Amazon forests57, with typically (Murici, Alagoas) supports the most threatened Amazonian forms occurring alongside Atlantic birds in the Americas77. Forest taxa18,54,76. Birds are the group with the Forest destruction in the Pernambuco centre largest number of north-east Brazilian began five centuries ago, driven mostly by sugarcane representatives of Amazonian species, most being plantations and mills (usinas), and cattle ranching18. disjunct, endemic populations currently treated as Aside from forest clearance, extraction and hunting subspecies (Table 1). Other taxa, such as depleted and even extirpated species, e.g. a strigulosus and Pteroglossus population of Bare-faced inscriptus, have not diverged morphologically from fasciolata53,69. Human impact has been sufficiently their Amazonian counterparts. Overall, 38 taxa pervasive that most remaining forest is second are recognised as endemic to the Pernambuco centre growth, occupying formerly cultivated or heavily (Table 1). logged areas4. Compared to other sectors of the Atlantic Forest, Initially, the usinas planted sugarcane in the the Pernambuco centre is the one that has been most plains along the main rivers draining to the sea, severely impacted by humans, as well as being the and consequently riverine forests and wetlands are least known and protected18–20,35,37,39. It is long gone. The mills used wood for power, thus unsurprising that the region harbours the largest increased in the 19th century when number of threatened birds in Brazil, and one area steam machinery was introduced. The tablelands

33 Cotinga 20 Birds in Atlantic Forest fragments in north-east Brazil

Alhough Europeans occupied much of the Brazilian coast within a comparatively short period, it was in the north-east that colonisation had the most damaging impacts on the Atlantic Forest. Over 90% of forests in the Pernambuco centre have been cleared and the remnants are mostly small and isolated65, a different situation from that in south- east Brazil, where the coastal mountains and poor coastal soils forced large-scale agriculture elsewhere, permitting the survival of relatively large forest areas that may act as sources13,24,39,59. The forests of the Pernambuco centre originally covered c.56,000 km2 or 4.6% of the Atlantic Forest complex. Main forest types were transitional inland forests (34.9%), semideciduous forests (28.4%) and open ombrophyllous forests (20.5%). Data from 1995 satellite images showed only 2,124 km2 of forests remained or only 3.76% of the Pernambuco centre45. The situation has deteriorated since, as forest clearance has continued even in ‘protected’ areas such as Murici (pers. obs.). It has been suggested that the Atlantic Forest avifauna is pre-adapted to withstand forest fragmentation because of the persistence of diverse communities in patches of reduced area7,13,14,58 but the evidence is equivocal2, and it has been argued Figure 1. Localities surveyed (see also Table 2): 1. Usina that those Atlantic Forest species more sensitive to Santo Antonio 1; 2. Usina Santo Antonio 2; 3. Fazenda human impacts became extinct without formal Riachão, Usina Coruripe; 4. Mata do Capiatã, Usina description46. Bird guilds differ in their vulnerability Coruripe; 5. Mata do Riachão, Usina Coruripe; 6. Mata da to human impacts, some being more susceptible to Sálvia, Usina Utinga-Leão; 7. Torre da Embratel, Murici hunting (large-bodied species such as cracids and Ecological Station; 8. Mata do Cedro, Usina Utinga-Leão; other ground frugivores64), while others are 9. Mata da Sela, Usina Cachoeira; 10. Mata Bamburral II, vulnerable to fragmentation and changes in the Usina Cachoeira; 11. Mata do Pinto, Usina Serra Grande; 12. Mata do Engenho Coimbra, Usina Serra Grande; 13. physical structure of their habitat, such as Mata da Encosta do Grotão, Usina Camaragibe; 14. Mata understorey and large arboreal da Santa Justina, Usina Santo Antônio; 15. Grotão do Brás, frugivores1–3,16,28,30,38,78. Mata de Santa Justina, Usina Santo Antônio. Despite being considered a conservation priority, and the long history of human impact making it an away from the floodplains were largely spared until ideal area to understand the long-term impact of the 20th century, when demand for wood, and thus habitat fragmentation, deforestation, extraction and clearance, peaked. Deforestation reached its height chronic hunting on Neotropical forests, few recent between the late 1970s and 1988, during the data concerning forest bird communities in the 6,36,44,54 PROALCOOL, an official programme of the Atlantic Forest of north-east Brazil exist . Brazilian government that subsidised the owners Here, we endeavour to plug this gap, describing the of usinas in to increase ethanol and sugar results of quantitative bird surveys in 15 forest production. In order to acquire readily accessible fragments in Alagoas state, and discussing the taxpayer money they had little incentive to return, impacts of human activities on selected bird guilds. usina owners virtually eliminated all accessible forest in order to grow sugarcane69. Now, most Methods remnant forests are within steep valleys, where We conducted bird surveys in Atlantic Forest suitable conditions to sugarcane do not exist, fragments in Alagoas during October 2001. Our or near sources of water the usinas considered useful main goal was to search for unreported populations 66,67 to protect. Besides causing habitat loss, sugarcane of the regional endemics (see Table 1) and to plantations, until quite recently, also relied heavily assess the conservation status of forest fragments on aerial pesticide applications, which reached on sugar mill land, which harbour most such remnant forests. In addition, few landowners remnants in north-east Brazil. forbade hunting or woodcutting in their forests. Field work was undertaken during the period These further impacts have greatly affected the local 6–27 October 2001. We visited 15 previously identi- avifauna. fied, larger and better-preserved forest fragments

34 Cotinga 20 Birds in Atlantic Forest fragments in north-east Brazil

Ta b le 2. Forest fragments surveyed for endemic Atlantic Forest birds in Alagoas, 6–27 October 2001.

Locality Location Area Field Number Notes (ha) hours of species recorded 1. Usina Santo 09o23’S c.80 7 89 Ombrophyllous forest within a steep narrow valley Antônio 1 35o37’W; with a creek. Few patches of larger amid tangled, 100 m degraded second growth; some large ground bromeliads, emergent trees (mostly pendula). Intensive on- going selective logging. Several poacher hides. 2. Usina Santo 09o23’S c. 25 4 84 Ombrophyllous forest within a steep narrow valley with Antônio 2 35o35’W; creeks. Several large trees and emergents (mostly Parkia 30 m pendula), open understorey. No evidence of recent logging. Several poacher hides. 3. Fazenda Riachão, 10o03’S 337 6 38 Drier forest with many Caesalpina echinata trees. No perennial Usina Coruripe 36o16’W; creek. Upper canopy 20 m, with emergents over 30 m. 120 m No evidence of recent logging. Several poacher hides. 4. Mata do Capiatã, 10o00’S 458 6 53 Linked to the previous fragment, with similar vegetation in better- Usina Coruripe 36o16’W; drained areas. Three creeks, surrounded by ombrophyllous 150 m forest with trees over 40 m, draining a large reservoir surrounded by forest. A village of 400 people by the forest, which is encircled by second growth. Three poachers observed. 5. Mata do Riachão, 10o03’S 454 2.1 24 Drier forest with many Caesalpina echinata trees and very large fig Usina Coruripe 36o16’W; trees. A small perennial creek. Upper canopy at 25 m, with 100 m emergents over 40 m. No evidence of recent logging. 6. Mata da Sálvia, 09o32’S c.400 4 77 Ombrophyllous forest within a valley with open undergrowth. Usina Utinga-Leão 35o50’W; Many tall emergents (Parkia pendula). Forest centre surrounded by 160 m a belt of Cecropia and other secondary species. Selective logging of poles, poaching and bird catching recorded. 7. Torre da Embratel, 09o14’S c.300 2.5 40 Second-growth montane forest, highly degraded. Most trees have Murici Ecological 35o47’W; multiple trunks due to re-sprouting from former cutting. Taller Station 470 m trees belong to non-commercial species. Many secondary species like Cecropia. Intensive logging. 8. Mata do Cedro, 09o31’S c.500 7 78 Ombrophyllous tall forest with many emergents (Parkia) and large Usina Utinga-Leão 35o54’W; Attalea palms. Connected to other fragments and total area may 120 m be 1,000 ha. Slopes possess tall forest with open understorey; level areas selectively logged and have lower trees and tangled understorey. Forest surrounds a large water reservoir. One gunshot heard. 9. Mata da Sela, 09o22’S c.100 2 46 Dry forest on a hillside with many exposed boulders. Highly Usina Cachoeira 35o43’W; degraded by selective logging. A few emergents, up to 30 m high, 160 m tower above an 8 m-high canopy of second-growth spp. (Cecropia, Melastomaceae). Undergrowth with many sedges. 10. Mata Bamburral II, 09o26’S c.500 2.1 69 Ombrophyllous forest within a steep, narrow valley with a creek. Usina Cachoeira 35o41’W; Large emergents (Parkia pendula and Aspidosperma sp.) amid many 150 m second-growth spp. (Inga, Cecropia). An abandoned camp (of poachers?) found. 11. Mata do Pinto, 08o58’S c.300 5.4 103 Ombrophyllous hilltop forest with a 20 m-high canopy; evidence Usina Serra Grande 36o06’W; of selective logging long ago. Many fruiting Didymopanax morototoni 160 m and melastomes, the latter forming a belt around parts of the fragment. Open undergrowth with sedge patches. Creeks and two water reservoirs within the fragment. 12. Mata do Engenho 09o00’S c.800 5.1 103 Tall ombrophyllous forest with a 20–25 m-high canopy and Coimbra, Usina 35o52’W; emergents over 30 m. Many palms (Attalea, Euterpe edulis) and Serra Grande 590 m arboreal bromeliads. Many fallen fruits (Sapotaceae and ) eaten by . Several creeks. No evidence of selective logging. Eight poachers (plus six hunting dogs) recorded. 13. Mata da Encosta 09o07’S c.100 4 45 Very degraded ombrophyllous forest under severe selective do Grotão, 35o34’W; logging. No permanent water. A few emergent Parkia. Usina Camaragibe 160 m 14. Mata da Santa 09o13’S c.80 11 77 Ombrophyllous forest with evidence of past selective logging, Justina, Usina 35o30’W; within a steep narrow valley. Reasonably conserved, with Santo Antônio 30 m emergent Parkia. Some trails used by poachers and loggers. 15. Grotão do Brás, 09o13’S c.100 7 20 Well-conserved ombrophyllous forest in the narrow steep valley Mata de Santa 35o31’W; of a small river; 25 m-high canopy. Many emergents (Parkia pendula Justina, Usina 50 m and Lecythis pisonii). Many palms, including fruiting Euterpe edulis. Santo Antônio Open and species-rich undergrowth. An old trail, obstructed at points, leads to the forest.

35 Cotinga 20 Birds in Atlantic Forest fragments in north-east Brazil

(Table 2) recording bird species observed, number sugarcane plantations and other man-made habi- of individuals, as well as habitat , group size, tats. C. soui was the most widespread species, food habits and general behaviour, and the recorded in six areas, an expected result, as the spe- conservation status of each area. Field work always cies prefers dense secondary vegetation at edges and commenced at dawn and usually continued until clearings, and will use bushy areas and cocoa plan- nightfall. Birds were observed using binoculars and tations15. It is probably well able to withstand vocalisations recorded with a Sony TCM 5000 EV selective logging and forest fragmentation, and its and Sennheiser ME66 microphone. Copies of record- small size and cryptic habits mean that hunters do ings have been deposited at the Arquivo Sonoro not favour the species. C. strigulosus, on the other Elias Coelho (ASEC), Universidade Federal do Rio hand, is restricted to lowland humid forests and was de Janeiro. Coordinates and altitude were taken found only at Grotão do Brás, near sea level, where using a GPS and the staff of the usinas furnished a single record was made. At Usina Uruba and additional information such as the size of each area. Coruripe we were shown three captive C. noctivagus The number of records of each species was converted caught in scrubby coastal forest (restinga) near the to an abundance index (number of individuals/100 mouth of the rio São Francisco, at usinas Coruripe field hours78,79) to facilitate comparisons between and Marituba. They exhibited the dark coloration areas. We also recorded we encountered characteristic of the threatened nominate (Atlantic as complementary data. Forest) subspecies and thus represent either a The 15 fragments were very varied in habitat significant northward range extension for this taxon status and conservation. One important fact that or a population intermediate between C. n. demands emphasis is that in southern, drier noctivagus and the caatinga C. n. zabele. The species fragments, there is a trend for the undergrowth of appears to be as locally scarce as Solitary the more humid parts of such forests to be and is Critically Endangered at a regional level. dominated by Psychotria (Rubiaceae) treelets, while Ortalis araucuan is apparently a habitat Miconia and Leandra spp. () are generalist easily recognised by its vocalisation and abundant in the more humid northern fragments gregarious habits that make its detection simple and may even form a ‘belt’ around higher altitude for biologists and poachers alike. This species was areas such as Murici and Usina Serra Grande66. considered common throughout north-east Brazil71 but we recorded it only once (a pair duetting at Results site 2). Despite being the cracids best A list of bird species recorded in our survey is pre- able to cope with hunting and deforestation, it was sented in Table 3. The areas that harboured the most absent from 14 fragments surveyed and its status species were Mata do Engenho Coimbra and Mata does not appear as safe as formerly considered. do Pinto, both with 103 species recorded after Penelope superciliaris is another generalist able slightly more than five field hours in each fragment. to cope with deforestation and even comparatively Both belong to Usina Serra Grande and are rela- high levels of poaching, and was found in five tively close (c.30 km by car) to each other, though fragments varying from well conserved to heavily situated at different altitudes. degraded forest. The population in Alagoas belongs to the recently described P. s. alagoensis, which Indicator species appears quite distinctive in plumage43. and cracids The larger cracids and tinamous are classic Birds of prey examples of birds vulnerable to hunting50,64; indeed While open-country species such as Buteo spp. are Alagoas Curassow Mitu mitu is considered extinct common, larger forest raptors and (Spizaetus in the wild11,66. We found no evidence for the spp., Spizastur melanoleucus and Pulsatrix continued existence of Tinamus solitarius perspicillata) appeared scarce or absent from our pernambucensis, now thought to be restricted to survey sites. The continued survival of Spizaetus Murici (F. Pinto pers. comm.), at any of our survey tyrannus in the region is attested by recent records sites. None of the people we interviewed was aware at Usina Serra Grande (S. A. Roda in litt.) and one of recent records of the macuca, as local people was seen in June 2002 near the Pernambuco/ commonly refer to it. The form was rarely heard in Alagoas border stalking marmosets (F. Melo in litt.). Murici during the 1991 breeding season (J. F. The largest hawk species we recorded were the Pacheco in litt.) and recent visits there by medium-sized and adaptable Leptodon cayanensis groups have also failed to detect it; (two sites), Geranospiza caerulescens (two sites) and thus the taxon, if valid, is evidently Critically Micrastur semitorquatus (only in Mata da Sálvia). Endangered. All Leptodan recorded by us exhibited the typical Even where present, forest tinamous were characters of L.cayanensis, and the validity of scarce in all areas, with only 1–2 records/area, while White-collared Kite L.forbesi is currently being Crypturellus parvirostris was common in nearby studied by LFS.

36 Cotinga 20 Birds in Atlantic Forest fragments in north-east Brazil Table 3. Bird taxa recorded in 15 forest fragments in Alagoas, north-east Brazil, and their relative abundances (individuals/100 hours; for a fuller explanation of such methodology see Willis78 and Willis & Onki99). See Table 2 for the code of localities (1–15). Question marks refer to observations in which the species identity was uncertain. English name Scientific name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Crypturellus soui 14 50 ------100 - - 59 - 18 29 Crypturellus tataupa 14? ------Brazilian Tinamou Crypturellus strigulosus ------57 Striated Heron Butorides striatus ------29- -19- - - - Rufescent Tiger-heron Tigrisoma lineatum ---17------37---- Black Vulture Coragyps atratus 14 50 67 - - 100 320 14 150 - 56 118 50 64 14 Vulture Cathartes aura 14 - - - - - 80 29 - - - 20 75 36 - Lesser Yellow-headed Vulture Cathartes burrovianus 14 - - 33 - - 120 57 - - 19 20 - 18 - Bicoloured Hawk Accipiter bicolor ---17? ------Grey-headed Kite Leptodon cayanensis ------59--- Hawk Geranospiza caerulescens ------14- ---25-- Grey Hawk Asturina nitida -----254029- 9519 - - - - Roadside Hawk Rupornis magnirostris 14 25 - 33 - - - - - 95 - - 50 27 - Short-tailed Hawk Buteo brachyurus ------9- Zone-tailed Hawk Buteo albonotatus 14 - - 17 ------59--- Crested Caracara Caracara plancus 14 - - 17 - 50 - - - 48 19 20 25 18 - Yellow-headed Caracara Milvago chimachima -----75----37---- Laughing Falcon Herpetotheres cachinnans -----25-2950 ----9- Barred Forest-falcon Micrastur ruficollis 14 25 ------19 20 - 9 14 Collared Forest-falcon Micrastur semitorquatus -----75------Speckled Ortalis araucuan -50------Rusty-margined Penelope superciliaris alagoensis --33-- - -29 50 48 19 - - - - Spot-winged Wood-quail Odontophorus capueira plumbeicollis ------29------Limpkin Aramus guarauna ------43------Rufous-sided Crake Laterallus melanophaius -----50------Russet-crowned Crake Laterallus viridis ------48----- Grey-necked Wood- Aramides cajanea ------19---- Ash-throated Crake Porzana albicollis -----25------Blackish Rail Pardirallus nigricans ------37---- Purple Gallinule Porphyrula martinica ------37---- Common Moorhen Gallinula chloropus ------37---- Wattled Jacana Jacana jacana ------71- -37- - - - Scaled Pigeon Columba speciosa 29 ------29 100 95 19 20 - - - Plain-breasted Ground-dove Columbina minuta 29 ------Ruddy Ground-dove Columbina talpacoti -----300 - 57 ------29 White-tipped Dove Leptotila verreauxi 14 25 - 17 - 50 - 71 - - 19 20 25 18 - Grey-fronted Dove Leptotila rufaxilla ------14- -1920-9 - Ruddy Quail-dove Geotrygon montana -----25-29------Red-shouldered Diopsittaca nobilis 71 100 - - - 450 2560 57 - - - 235 100 91 57 Jandaya Parakeet jandaya -25------100 - - - 100 27 - Peach-fronted Parakeet Aratinga aurea -50------Blue-winged Parrotlet Forpus xanthopterygius ------3739--- Plain Parakeet tirica ------50 ------Golden-tailed Parrotlet Touit surda 14 - - - - 150 480 - - 95 - 235 - - - Blue-headed Pionus menstruus 29 ------100 - - 98 - 91 - Dark-billed Coccyzus melacoryphus ------57------Squirrel Cuckoo Piaya cayana 14 50 - 17 48 50 40 43 - 95 74 39 - 27 14 Smooth-billed Ani Crotophaga ani - 150 ------Guira Cuckoo Guira guira 57 50 ------Striped Cuckoo Tapera naevia 14 25 - - - 25 40 - - 95 - 39 25 18 - Tropical Screech- Otus choliba ------9- Spectacled Owl Pulsatrix perspicillata ----95------Ferruginous Pygmy-owl Glaucidium brasilianum ---33------25-- Common Potoo Nyctibius griseus --1717 ------Short-tailed Nighthawk Lurocalis semitorquatus --1733 48 - - - - - 19 137 - 36 - Pauraque Nyctidromus albicollis -503350286 - - - - - 19 118 50 18 - Ocellated Poorwill Nyctiphrynus ocellatus ------20--- Rufous Nightjar Caprimulgus rufus -25-33------9- Scissor-tailed Nightjar Hydropsalis torquata -25------25-- Lesser Swallow-tailed Swift Panyptila cayennensis ------18- Grey-rumped Swift Chaetura spinicauda -75------50- -20- - - Rufous-breasted Hermit Glaucis hirsuta 14 - - - - 25 - 29 - - 19 - - - - Buff-bellied Hermit Phaethornis ochraceiventris camargoi ------48?19? 59? - - - Reddish Hermit Phaethornis ruber 29 25 50 83 48 25 40 57 - 48 - 78 - - - Swallow-tailed macroura ------25--

37 Cotinga 20 Birds in Atlantic Forest fragments in north-east Brazil

English name Scientific name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Black Jacobin Melanotrochilus fuscus ------78--- Sombre Hummingbird Aphantochroa cirrochloris ------37---- Black-throated Mango Anthracothorax nigricollis -----50-29-4819- - - - Ruby-topaz Hummingbird Chrysolampis mosquitus -----50- ----20259- Blue-chinned Sapphire Chlorestes notatus 29 25 33 50 - 25 40 43 100 - - - 25 - - Glittering-bellied Emerald Chlorostilbon aureoventris ------95- - - - - Long-tailed Woodnymph Thalurania watertonii 29 25 - 33 - - - - - 143 - 20 - - - Rufous-throated Sapphire Hylocharis sapphirina 14 ------White-chinned Sapphire Hylocharis cyanus -251717- - - 14 - - - 78 - - - Versicoloured Emerald Agyrtria versicolor 14 ------48----- Glittering-throated Emerald Amazilia fimbriata ------37---- Black-eared Fairy Heliothryx aurita -25------37---- Blue-crowned Trogon curucui ------18- White-tailed Trogon Trogon viridis 43 50 - 33 - 25 - - - 95 - - - 9 14 Green Kingfisher Chloroceryle americana 14 ------29 - 48 - - - - - Blue-crowned Motmot Momotus momota marcgraviana 14 ------71 - 95 - 59 - 82 - Rufous-tailed Jacamar Galbula ruficauda 29 50 50 17 - 25 40 100 100 48 93 20 - 9 - Lettered Aracari Pteroglossus inscriptus ------43- -37- -18- Black-necked Aracari Pteroglossus aracari -25-- - -240 29 - - - - - 127 43 Channel-billed Toucan Ramphastos vitellinus 14 ------78--- Golden-spangled Picumnus exilis pernambucensis ---17-7580 43 100 48 19 157 - 36 - Fulvous Piculet Picumnus fulvescens ------37---- Little passerinus ------95- - - - - Red-stained Woodpecker Veniliornis affinis 43 - - - - - 160 - - - 19 39 - 18 - Yellow-throated Woodpecker Piculus flavigula ------20--- Golden-green Woodpecker Piculus chrysochloros ------40------Blond-crested Woodpecker Celeus flavescens 29 ------48 19 - - - - Lineated Woodpecker Dryocopus lineatus 14 25 ------19 20 - - - Sooty-fronted Spinetail Synallaxis frontalis -----25- - - -19-50-- Pinto’s Spinetail Synallaxis infuscata -----25- ---74---- Grey-headed Spinetail Cranioleuca semicinerea ------7420--- Yellow-chinned Spinetail Certhiaxis cinnamomea ------3720--- Common Thornbird Phacellodomus rufifrons ------1920--- Plain Xenops Xenops minutus alagoanus 57 25 - - - - 40 29 - 48 19 20 - 9 - White-eyed Foliage-gleaner Automolus leucophthalmus lammi ------137--- Plain-brown Woodcreeper Dendrocincla fuliginosa taunay ------29- - -78-18- Olivaceous Woodcreeper Sittasomus griseicapillus 43 25 - 17 - 100 - 43 50953759- 45- Straight-billed Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus picus 14 50 ------19 20 25 - - Buff-throated Woodcreeper Xiphorhynchus guttatus 14 - 17 100 95 50 - 100 - - 37 - - 55 29 Lesser Woodcreeper Lepidocolaptes fuscus atlanticus -----25- ----20--- Great Antshrike Taraba major ------37---- Barred Antshrike Thamnophilus doliatus 14 ------White-shouldered Antshrike Thamnophilus aethiops distans ------80 29 - - - 78 - - - Variable Antshrike Thamnophilus caerulescens pernambucensis 86 25 - - 95 25 - - 50 - 74 39 100 27 14 Rufous-winged Antshrike Thamnophilus torquatus -50------Plain Antvireo Dysithamnus mentalis ---17------White-flanked Antwren Myrmotherula axillaris 29 50 33 17 - - 40 86 100 - - 78 - 18 57 Black-capped Antwren Herpsilochmus atricapillus 57 50 - 33 ------56 - - - - Rufous-winged Antwren Herpsilochmus rufimarginatus 86 50 100 133 95 275 80 143 250 95 37 490 - 27 - White-fringed Antwren Formicivora grisea 114 50 33 33 95 25 40 114 100 ------Orange-bellied Antwren Terenura sicki ------98--- Willis’ Cercomacra laeta sabinoi 14 ------39--- White-backed Fire-eye Pyriglena leuconota pernambucensis 29 50 33 - - 50 80 43 100 48 - 118 - - 14 Scalloped Antbird Myrmeciza ruficauda soror ------235--29 Rufous-capped Antthrush Formicarius colma ---33-- -14---20--- Rufous Conopophaga lineata cearae 14 25 - - - 25 ------Black-cheeked Gnateater Conopophaga melanops nigrifrons -5033334825- 14 ---157 - 55 14 Screaming Piha Lipaugus vociferans ------9- Bearded Bellbird Procnias averano 43 - - - - - 80 86 ------White-bearded Manakin Manacus manacus 114 100 - - - 75 40 - 100 95 204 59 - 55 - Blue-backed Manakin Chiroxiphia pareola 171 100 67 200 190 25 120 257 200 190 93 588 - 73 14 Red-headed Manakin Pipra rubrocapilla 86 100 33 50 48 100 120 100 - 48 130 510 - 55 - Pale-bellied Tyrant-manakin Neopelma pallescens 86 100 17 17 - - - 29 - - 19 39 - - - Slender-footed Tyrannulet Zimmerius gracilipes ------20--- White-lored Tyrannulet Ornithion inerme ------80-100 48 19 - - 36 - Southern Beardless-tyrannulet Camptostoma obsoletum 29 100 17 33 48 125 - 43 50 48 - 20 25 18 - Yellow Tyrannulet Capsiempis flaveola 57 100 - - - 175 - - - 95 19 39 - - - Forest Elaenia gaimardii -----25------

38 Cotinga 20 Birds in Atlantic Forest fragments in north-east Brazil

English name Scientific name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Large Elaenia Elaenia spectabilis 14 ------Yellow-bellied Elaenia Elaenia flavogaster 29 25 17 17 - 125 120 14 - 190 74 118 75 36 - White-crested Tyrannulet Contopus cinereus ------19---- Sepia-capped Flycatcher Leptopogon amaurocephalus 14 25 17 17 48 125 - 43 50 48 19 39 - 73 - Alagoas Tyrannulet Phylloscartes ceciliae ------20--- White-eyed Tody-tyrant Hemitriccus zosterops naumburgae 43 50 67 83 95 50 120 100 100 95 19 216 - 91 - Common Tody-flycatcher Todirostrum cinereum 14 25 - - - 150 - 43 - - 111 - 75 18 - White-throated Spadebill Platyrinchus mystaceus ----143 - - 29 - 48 - 20 - - - Olivaceous Flatbill Rhynchocyclus olivaceus --17------59--- Yellow-olive Flycatcher Tolmomyias poliocephalum --17? - - - - 57? - - 19? - - - - Yellow-breasted Flycatcher Tolmomyias flaviventris 57 100 67 67 143 150 - 114 50 143 19 98 25 27 - Bran-coloured Flycatcher Myiophobus fasciatus ------14- -19-25- - Euler’s Flycatcher Lathrotriccus euleri -50333348- - 14-4874 39 - 27 - Masked Water-tyrant Fluvicola nengeta -----25-86--74---- Bright-rumped Attila Attila spadiceus --1717 48 25 - 71 - 48 37 98 - 36 14 Greyish Mourner Rhytipterna simplex 14 25 17 17 48 25 - 29 50 95 - 157 - 27 14 Dusky-capped Flycatcher Myiarchus tuberculifer ------48----- Swainson’s Flycatcher Myiarchus swainsoni 29 - - 50 - - - - 100 95 - 20 - - - Short-crested Flycatcher Myiarchus ferox ------29- ---25-- Great Kiskadee Pitangus sulphuratus 29 25 - - - 25 - 43 - 48 130 - 25 18 - Boat-billed Flycatcher Megarynchus pitangua 57 50 - - - 25 - - 100 95 111 59 25 18 - Social Flycatcher Myiozetetes similis 29 50 - - - 100 - 143 - 95 37 78 - 18 - Streaked Flycatcher Myiodynastes maculatus --17-48------Variegated Flycatcher Empidonomus varius -----25------Tropical Kingbird Tyrannus melancholicus 14 25 17 17 - 225 - 29 - 95 56 137 - 36 - -like Schiffornis Schiffornis turdinus intermedius 14 - 17 33 48 - - 57 50 48 - - - 18 - Green-backed Becard Pachyramphus viridis -----25-1450 48 - - - - - White-winged Becard Pachyramphus polychopterus 14 25 ------50 95 37 20 - - - Grey-breasted Martin Progne chalybea ------19037---- White-rumped Swallow Tachycineta leucorrhoa ------57------Blue-and-white Swallow Notiochelidon cyanoleuca 14 ------Southern Rough-winged Swallow Stelgidopteryx ruficollis 29 - - - - 75 - 43 100 381 19 - - 127 - Black-capped Donacobius Donacobius atricapillus ------37---- Moustached Thryothorus genibarbis 86 50 33 33 95 200 80 143 300 48 - 59 100 36 - House Wren Troglodytes aedon -25-- -100 40 - - - 19202518- Rufous-bellied Thrush Turdus rufiventris ------19---- Pale-breasted Thrush Turdus leucomelas 43 100 - - - 200 40 43 50 48 278 137 50 55 57 Cocoa Thrush Turdus albicollis ------1939--- Long-billed Gnatwren Ramphocaenus melanurus 86 25 ------50 48 19 373 - 45 - Tropical plumbea -75-- - 25 - - - 95 37 - - - - Red-eyed Vireo Vireo olivaceus 143 100 100 317 333 125 - 271 100 190 93 294 150 91 29 Rufous-browed Peppershrike Cyclarhis gujanensis 114 25 17 17 - 75 40 - 50 95 130 176 25 9 - Tropical Parula Parula pitiayumi 57 50 - - - - 40 - - - - 20 - - - Golden-crowned Warbler Basileuterus culicivorus 57 25 - 17 - 100 - 14 - 95 74 20 50 36 - Flavescent Warbler Basileuterus flaveolus 29 25 ------48 74 - 50 - - Bananaquit Coereba flaveola 86 100 117 67 - 250 - 100 50 190 93 314 75 55 - Brazilian Ramphocelus bresilius bresilius -----50----9320--- Cinnamon Tanager Schistochlamys ruficapillus ------25-- Orange-headed Tanager Thlypopsis sordida ------56-50-- Guira Tanager Hemithraupis guira 57 50 67 - - 50 120 - - - 111 118 - - - Ye llow-backed Tanager Hemithraupis flavicollis melanoxantha 43 50 167 33 - - - - 100 - 37 529 - 36 - Hooded Tanager Nemosia pileata -503333-150 - 100 - 48 37 - 50 - - Flame-crested Tanager Tachyphonus cristatus 86 75 - 50 - - 80 - 50 - 37 294 - 36 - White-lined Tanager Tachyphonus rufus 114 50 33 - - 175 - - 50 190 37 98 100 55 - Sayaca Tanager Thraupis sayaca -----75-14- -56 59 50 36 - Palm Tanager Thraupis palmarum 29 50 - - - 225 - 100 100 - 204 157 150 73 - Purple-throated Euphonia Euphonia chlorotica ------19202518- Violaceous Euphonia Euphonia violacea -50-- -150 80 29 50 - 111 39 - 18 - -bellied Euphonia Euphonia pectoralis ------98--- Seven-coloured Tanager Tangara fastuosa 171 150 - - - 75 - - - 95 148 - - - - Red-necked Tanager Tangara cyanocephala corallina ------44478 200 - - Burnished-buff Tanager Tangara cayana 114 100 - - - 275 - - - 143 204 39 - 73 - Opal-rumped Tanager Tangara velia cyanomelaena 57 - - - - - 280 ------Blue Dacnis Dacnis cayana 114 50 - - - 100 - 57 150 48 56 137 - 18 - Green Chlorophanes spiza -25------Red-legged Honeycreeper Cyanerpes cyaneus -50-- - - 80-100 48 - - --- Blue-black Grassquit Volatinia jacarina -25------20--- White-bellied Seedeater Sporophila leucoptera ------50--

39 Cotinga 20 Birds in Atlantic Forest fragments in north-east Brazil

English name Scientific name 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 Sooty Grassquit Tiaris fuliginosa 29 ------37---- Pectoral Sparrow Arremon taciturnus -25-33-175 40 14 - 95 167 39 - - - Rufous-collared Sparrow Zonotrichia capensis -25------Buff-throated Saltator Saltator maximus 86 25 - - - 75 40 29 - 95 19 78 25 55 - Black-throated Grosbeak Saltator fuliginosus -50-- - 75- ---3720--- Yellow-green Grosbeak Caryothraustes canadensis frontalis 57 - - 33 - - - - 100 - - 39 - 36 - Epaulet Oriole Icterus cayanensis -----50- - -95 37 - 25 - -

Large canopy frugivores and abundant in some fragmented or logged forests1,78, Some canopy frugivores require large territories, so the may be better able to cope with human while all rely on limited resources such as hol- impacts than Amazona species. lows and adequate fruit crops. Many are targeted That the commonest forest parrot (and one of by poachers for meat or to supply the cagebird mar- the most frequent birds in Mata do Engenho ket. Nevertheless, most are able to cover long Coimbra) during our surveys was the globally distances in search of fruiting trees (some even per- threatened Touit surda points to the cause of the forming migrations63) and may be pre-adapted to demise of the Amazona spp. T. surda is not sought fragmented landscapes provided key food resources as a cagebird because of its poor survival in and nest sites remain. captivity, and, not being wholly dependent on tree The most widespread parrots were the hollows, it is able to nest in arboreal termitaria in adaptable, forest-edge and cerrado Diopsittaca relatively young forest74. Termitaria and other nobilis and Aratinga jandaya, found in nine and alternative nest sites probably also account for the five sites respectively. Their comparative abundance continued survival of Diopsittaca nobilis and is surprising as both are targets of illegal cagebird Aratinga jandaya27. D. nobilis has successfully commerce (D. nobilis being made up to look like established feral populations in southern Brazilian Amazon parrots) and rely on fairly large cavities cities such as São Paulo and , nesting for nesting, available only in older trees. D. nobilis in buildings and other human structures63 (pers. is quite common in groves in northern obs.). Alagoas and its ability to utilise open habitats Like parrots, toucans are locally sought by presumably include unappreciated strategies that cagebird traffickers and are dependent on tree permit the species to survive in Alagoas. hollows for nesting and roosting. Toucans also feed No Amazona parrots were recorded, and the heavily on large fruits produced by commercial threatened Amazona rhodocorytha may be extinct timber species, e.g. Virola, Ocotea and Copaifera in Alagoas. We also failed to record Pyrrhura anaca, spp., and palms such as Euterpe edulis28,29. which is apparently restricted to the montane Therefore, they are almost certainly affected by forests of Murici73. Brotogeris tirica was found only selective logging and palm-heart extraction. The at Mata da Sela, where a pair was observed. Its largest toucan in Alagoas, Ramphastos vitellinus, rarity is surprising as it was described as common was found in only two fragments (Usina Santo by Teixeira et al.72 and the species is widespread in Antonio 1 and Mata do Engenho Coimbra), being south-east Brazil from sea-level (where it is very commonest at the latter. Its rarity is unsurprising common) to over 1,000 m, and it even occurs in as it requires more mature forest with larger downtown São Paulo (pers. obs.). hollowed trees and is a more desired target among Pionus menstruus reichenowi is a quite poachers than the smaller species. It should be noted distinctive form of a widespread Amazonian species, that the species is quite common in old second- which occurs from Alagoas south to northern growth forest in the southern Atlantic Forest, being Espírito Santo (records from Rio de Janeiro are easily found in isolated (but protected) forests of a uncertain: J. F. Pacheco pers. comm.). Habitat few hundred hectares close to urban areas (e.g. destruction has been severe within its range and around São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, and in the race has been heavily trapped to supply the northern Santo Amaro Island) but also near large cagebird market, although it persists in a few areas of continuous forest that act as sources. protected areas, principally in Espírito Santo41,48. Pteroglossus inscriptus is a widespread This taxon deserves Vulnerable status. We found P. Amazonian species known from Pernambuco52 and m. reichenowi in four areas (Table 2), including the three localities in Alagoas47. We found it in another large Mata do Engenho Coimbra. However, the most three forest fragments (Mata do Cedro, Mata do significant population was at site 14, where we Pinto and Mata da Santa Justina), being sympatric recorded at least three different small groups. In with P. aracari at the first-named locality. The latter other areas, despite the presence of apparently occurred in five fragments, all lowland forests, and suitable habitat, none was recorded. In the southern its relatively greater abundance is consistent with Atlantic Forest, the related P. maximiliani is more its ability to persist in Atlantic Forest fragments

40 Cotinga 20 Birds in Atlantic Forest fragments in north-east Brazil elsewhere5. ging and extraction, and loss of associated organ- Two cotingas were found during the surveys: isms such as army , especially if no ‘source’ Lipaugus vociferans (only at Mata da Encosta do areas of undisturbed habitat exist nearby1,3,9,16,42,78. Grotão, near sea level) and Procnias averano (at Representative taxa are , e.g. sites 1, 7 and 8). Xipholena atropurpurea has been Thamnophilus aethiops, T. caerulescens, recorded from Mata do Engenho Coimbra (two Dysithamnus mentalis, Myrmotherula axillaris, specimens in the collection of the Universidade Cercomacra laeta, Myrmeciza ruficauda, Pyriglena Federal de Pernambuco11) but was not observed by leuconota, Formicarius colma, us. L. vociferans is restricted to lowlands, while P. (Conopophaga lineata and C. melanops), some averano occurs to at least to 500 m. Lipaugus can furnariids (Synallaxis infuscata, Automolus persist in mosaics of logged forest in the Amazon leucophthalmus) and tyrant-flycatchers (Zimmerius (pers. obs.) and the closely related L. unirufus has gracilipes, Rhynchocyclus olivaceus). survived, albeit in greatly reduced numbers, on A few species, at least, appear fairly widespread Barro Colorado Island after 85 years of isolation and able to withstand habitat disturbance from the mainland62. A similar pattern appears (Thamnophilus caerulescens, Myrmotherula evident in Alagoas. Bellbirds undertake fairly axillaris, Pyriglena leuconota, Conopophaga extensive migrations and this ability probably melanops). Pyriglena leuconota, T. caerulescens and, assists individuals explore widely dispersed forest especially, Hemitriccus zosterops are the most fragments63. P. averano has been subject to heavy widespread of the endemic Pernambuco centre taxa, trapping in Alagoas to supply bird fanciers (one occurring in at least ten of the 15 surveyed sites. specialised trapper until recently worked in the On the other hand, the rarity of the conspicuous Camaragipe area: F. Pinto pers. comm.) and this Dysithamnus mentalis, recorded in only one area, pressure, combined with , was unexpected as the species is usually adaptable explains the species’ comparative rarity. and able to maintain healthy populations in forest fragments. The apparent lack of the forest-edge Trunk and twig insectivores Synallaxis infuscata and Cercomacra laeta10 from Only two large were found (Celeus most fragments was unexpected and, in the latter’s flavescens and Dryocopus lineatus), both at just 3– case, may partially be a sampling artefact caused 4 sites. The lack of these otherwise common and by lack of familiarity with the species’ vocal conspicuous species able to utilise fragmented repertoire. forests was striking in apparently suitable habitat Other species, found in only 1–3 areas, which such as at Usina Coruripe and Utinga-Leão. The appeared genuinely rare were: Thamnophilus scarcity of large woodpeckers probably affects cavity aethiops, Myrmeciza ruficauda, Conopophaga nesters such as parrots, and toucans, which lineata, Formicarius colma, Automolus take advantage of the holes created by woodpeckers. leucophthalmus and Rhynchocyclus olivaceus. All Six woodcreeper species were found. Sittasomus were present (and some found only) at Mata do griseicapillus, Xiphorhynchus picus and X. guttatus Engenho Coimbra and this group probably includes appeared widespread and occurred even in degraded those species most sensitive to habitat disturbance fragments, which is unsurprising given that they and fragmentation. The presence of some appeared occupy a broad range of habitats, including linked to specific microhabitats not found in woodland with sparse trees61. disturbed fragments. For example, we found The two forest-dependent woodcreepers, the Myrmeciza ruficauda and Automolus local forms of Dendrocincla fuliginosa and leucophthalmus only in open shaded undergrowth Lepidocolaptes fuscus, were found only in the few dominated by broad-leaved Marantaceae under tall fragments of more humid forest with the best forest by creeks. habitat and/or largest area. Some specialised One striking observation was the rarity of this woodcreepers, e.g. Dendrocolaptes certhia and guild in apparently suitable habitat at Usina Campylorhamphus trochilirostris, whose geographic Coruripe and Mata do Cedro, and the generally low range includes this region, were not recorded during species richness and number of records of all guilds the surveys. The rarity/absence of woodcreeper there. One explanation may be the recent species may be linked to the observed scarcity of widespread use of aerially dispersed chemical mixed-species flocks and army swarms (see pesticides, which have certainly reached the isolated below). forests amid the plantations. The scarcity of mixed-species flocks comprising Understorey and ground insectivores understorey and mid-level species was also notable. This group comprises forest-dependent species with Although canopy flocks of and some limited dispersal ability that are known to be insectivores such as antwrens (Herpsilochmus spp.) adversely affected by habitat fragmentation, were common, flocks of ground and mid-level changes in vegetation structure associated with log- insectivores were not observed. Also, some key (and

41 Cotinga 20 Birds in Atlantic Forest fragments in north-east Brazil conspicuous) species in this group, e.g. Sclerurus mexicanus, S. caudacutus, Dendrocolaptes certhia, Conservation issues Thamnomanes caesius, Thamnophilus pelzelni, etc All surveyed fragments were isolated from other were completely absent, suggesting an important forest patches by sugarcane plantations, pastures rupture in the bird community. This may be linked and other inhospitable habitats for forest birds, to the absence of army ant swarms, none of which effectively making them ecological islands. Though was recorded by us. it is possible for canopy frugivores, tanagers and other groups to move between fragments, the same Important areas is not true for undergrowth and forest-floor species. The most important areas in terms of habitat extent, Much of the observed species loss can be attributed quality of remaining forest and number of to the isolation of forest fragments too small to threatened and/or endemic bird taxa were those at harbour viable populations25. Clearly there is an Usina Serra Grande (16 species in Mata do Engenho urgent need to create forested corridors between Coimbra and eight at Mata do Pinto), Usina Utinga- fragments both to increase available habitat and to Leão (11 species at Mata do Cedro), Usina Cachoeira provide connectivity between otherwise isolated (nine species at Bamburral) and Usina Santo populations34. Forest corridors could be planted Antônio (nine species at Santo Antonio 1) and, of along watercourses and steep slopes, as dictated by course, the uplands of Murici. The latter is one of Brazilian law, putting to better use areas that are the most important sites for conservation in currently under-utilised75. Neotropics11,77. Despite most usinas nominally protecting their The forests owned by Usina Serra Grande forests, woodcutting (mainly for poles and firewood) comprise one the most continuous and best- was detected in many surveyed areas. Such activity preserved fragments in north-east Brazil, and Mata is deleterious as most forests have been selectively do Engenho Coimbra may be the largest remnant logged and continue to lose trees as they become in the entire region, given the continuing adult. Planting of fast-growing species could provide deforestation at Murici. Mata do Engenho Coimbra, an alternative source of poles, and coupled with despite the activities of poachers, holds most of the better enforcement would help prevent further endemics described from Murici except, apparently, degradation. Also, forest enrichment by planting the local race of , Tinamus timber species important in shaping forest solitarius pernambucensis, and Alagoas Foliage- structure, and other species offering resources such gleaner Philydor novaesi. fruits and to the fauna, would assist in Mata do Cedro may be the largest remnant making better habitats of many remaining forests. midway between the sea and the Serra de An important issue is poaching, which is Borborema highlands, and holds very good habitat. undertaken using shotguns and dogs, and accounts The area is interesting because of the presence of for the general scarcity of larger birds and bellbirds and other large frugivores such as toucans mammals. Among the latter, only the marmoset and guans, and was one the few fragments where Callithrix jacchus was common and widespread Thamnophilus aethiops and Dendrocincla (recorded in nine areas). We also recorded lone fuliginosa were found. The area certainly warrants raccoons Procyon cancrivorus (area 12), foxes further research. Cerdocyon thous (areas 6 and 12) and tayras Eira The small fragments at Usina Santo Antônio barbara (sites 1 and 12) and a group of c.6 coatis are restricted to the valleys and slopes of low hills. Nasua nasua (area 5). Agoutis Dasyprocta However, the presence of tinamous (Crypturellus prymnolopha and squirrels Sciurus alphonsei attain strigulosus), hawks (Leptodon cayanensis), parrots high densities in isolated forest fragments in south- (Pionus menstruus reichenowi) and the report of a east Brazil17,23 but were observed only once in areas probably undescribed form of capuchin monkey, 8 and 4, respectively, and armadillo burrows, often Cebus sp. (which is rare, but still present) place this comparatively ubiquitous in Neotropical forests, forest as a priority for future research. The true were absent from all but areas 8 and 12. Hunting extent of the forest belonging to the usina is with firearms is traditional in regional culture, but unknown and should be investigated using up-to- is not related to the poverty of the rural population. date satellite images. Rather, it is a weekend activity undertaken by The forests at Usina Coruripe, especially urbanites and country people alike, and more a Capiatã, are important due their extent, numbers pastime than for survival. According to the owners of mature Caesalpina echinata trees and the of Usina Utinga-Leão, many poachers caught red- apparent vegetation difference between the forests handed in their forests are off-duty policemen north and south of Maceió. Despite its comparatively enjoying target practice and leisure time with like- impoverished avifauna, the Fazenda Riachão/ minded friends. Capiatã fragment could be used for reintroduction Enquiries in Maceió and Murici revealed the and/or translocation experiments of endemics. cost of .12 and .28 cartridges (which are favoured)

42 Cotinga 20 Birds in Atlantic Forest fragments in north-east Brazil to be R$2.00–2.50 (c.US$1) apiece, while 1 kg of fro- e Álcool (Cícero Almeida e Magno Túlio Madeiro); zen cost R$1.7 (c.US$0.68). Given other Usina Leão S/A, Vila Utinga (John William Buyers costs involved in hunting, such as transportation Júnior), Usina Cachoeira (Leonardo Pinto Costa); (there is no sizeable forest within a 10 km-radius of Usina Serra Grande (Clodoaldo José Bakker); Usina urban areas) and food for the hunter and his dogs, Camaragibe (Cláudia Maranhão) and João Maram. it is clear that hunting is not being driven by hun- Jeremy Minns, José Fernando Pacheco and Luiz ger. The common excuse that hunger causes Pedreira Gonzaga provided recordings used during poaching is not supported by the facts, and the ac- bird surveys. Drs Colin Bibby, Neil Burgess, tivity is the most likely cause for the obvious absence Jaqueline Goerck and José Fernando Pacheco kindly or rarity of medium and large vertebrates in all reviewed the manuscript. surveyed forests. Only if this threat can be removed will it be possible to advance plans to reintroduce References locally extinct species such as Tinamus solitarius 1. Aleixo, A. (1999) Effects of selective logging on and Mitu mitu into the larger fragments. a bird community in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. Condor 101: 537–548. Research recommendations 2. Aleixo, A. (2001) Conservação da avifauna da The taxonomic status of several subspecies endemic Floresta Atlântica: efeitos da fragmentação e to north-east Brazilian deserves further and urgent a importância de florestas secundárias. In: attention. Several taxa were originally described as Albuquerque, J., Cândido, J. F., Straube, F. C. species and subsequently demoted to subspecies & Roos, A. (eds.) Ornitologia e conservação: da during the ‘lumping era’ of the mid-20th century ciência às estratégias. Tubarão: Sociedade without detailed work to support such decisions, or Brasileira de Ornitologia, UNISUL/CNPq. relegated to synonyms by reviewers who failed to 3. Aleixo, A. & Vielliard, J. M. E. (1995) Composição examine appropriate specimen material. The ‘lower’ e dinâmica da avifauna da Mata Santa taxonomic treatment afforded to several endemic Genebra, Campinas, São Paulo, Brasil. Rev. (and certainly threatened) taxa has certainly been Bras. Zool. 12: 493–511. responsible for their conservation not being 4. Andrade-Lima, D. (1970) Recursos vegetais de considered a priority60,79. Though the status of some Pernambuco. Boletim do IPA 41: 1–32. taxa is doubtful (e.g. Tinamus solitarius 5. Anjos, L. dos (2001) Bird communities in five pernambucensis), other subspecies are clearly Atlantic Forest fragments in southern Brazil. species under either the PSC or BSC, which will Orn. Neotrop. 12: 11–27. dramatically increase the number of endemics and/ 6. Azevedo, S. M., Coelho, A. G. M., Larrazabal, M. or threatened species-level taxa in this region of E., Neves, R. M. L. & Telino, W. R. (1998) Brazil. A more critical and scientific approach to Conservação e diversidade das aves da Reserva taxonomic research is needed to support Ecológica Dois Irmãos. In: Machado, I. C., conservation efforts. Lopes, A. V. & Porto, K. C. (eds.) Reserva Local NGOs and authorities must undertake the Ecológica Dois Irmãos: estudos em um implementation of multiple-use forested corridors remanescente de Mata Atlântica em área between small forest fragments. Such projects are urbana (Recife - Pernambuco, Brasil). Recife: relatively inexpensive to finance and possess an Ed. Universidade Federal de Pernambuco. obvious social component given the locally high 7. Bencke, G. A. & Kindel, A. (1999) Bird counts demand for firewood, with results being apparent along an altitudinal gradient of Atlantic Forest in the short term. This is an essential mechanism in northeastern Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. for forest birds that cannot cross the ‘sea of Ararajuba 8: 17–23. sugarcane’ that isolates forest fragments. The best 8. Berla, H. F. (1946) Lista de aves colecionadas tree associations for creating new habitats and their em Pernambuco, com descrição de uma permeability by forest birds are interesting, and subespécie n., de um alótipo e notas de campo. necessary, topics for future research. Bol. Museu Nac. 65: 1–35. 9. Bierregaard, R. O. & Stouffer, P. C. (1997) Acknowledgements Understory birds and dynamic habitat mosaics BirdLife International, the Neotropical Bird Club, in Amazonian rainforests. In: Laurance, W. F. Wetlands Trust and Gesellschaft für Arten-und & Bierregaard, R. O. (eds.) 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